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CW vs. GE: Curtiss-Wright vs. GE Aerospace Stock Comparison

How do Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but CW is classified in Aerospace & Defense while GE is classified in Industrial Conglomerates.

Company profile comparison for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
Profile ItemCWGE
NameCurtiss-Wright CorporationGeneral Electric Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
GICS Industry GroupCapital GoodsCapital Goods
GICS IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Conglomerates
GICS Sub-IndustryAerospace & DefenseIndustrial Conglomerates
Market Capitalization16.81 billion USD335.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CW
GE
GSPC
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Total Return (1Y)-15.83%9.16%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.49%55.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)29.54%37.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CW
GE
GSPC
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.26%34.52%
Beta (5Y)0.931.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-45.25%-44.94%
Avg. Volume (3M)427.49K4.48M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CW and GE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.530.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.710.20

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but GE Aerospace (GE) at 50.17% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.82% also sits in the top quartile.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

21.82%

Max
40.55%
CW
21.82%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

50.17%

GE
50.17%
Max
40.55%
Q3
19.29%
Median
12.12%
Q1
4.08%
Min
-17.12%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 14.86% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 17.31% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

14.86%

Max
27.47%
CW
14.86%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

17.31%

Max
27.47%
GE
17.31%
Q3
12.10%
Median
6.30%
Q1
1.40%
Min
-12.89%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 19.87% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.49% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

19.87%

Max
36.60%
CW
19.87%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

18.49%

Max
36.60%
GE
18.49%
Q3
18.33%
Median
11.12%
Q1
5.14%
Min
-12.63%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
ROE (TTM)21.82%50.17%
ROA (TTM)8.90%5.06%
Net Margin (TTM)14.86%17.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.87%18.49%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.07%30.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 12.08% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 18.48% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

GE Aerospace (GE) at 35.89% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 21.99% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GE.

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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.08%18.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.01%16.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.99%35.89%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)19.09%446.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 1.42 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.98 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

1.42

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
CW
1.42
Min
0.36

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.98

Max
5.22
Q3
2.95
Median
2.08
Q1
1.43
GE
0.98
Min
0.36
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.45 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 1.16 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

0.45

Max
2.33
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
CW
0.45
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00

GE

Capital Goods industry group

1.16

Max
2.33
GE
1.16
Q3
1.12
Median
0.60
Q1
0.29
Min
0.00
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.420.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.451.16
Net Debt / EBITDA1.000.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 0.23% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 0.56% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

0.23%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
Median
0.24%
CW
0.23%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

0.56%

Max
2.66%
Q3
1.14%
GE
0.56%
Median
0.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.67% and GE Aerospace (GE) at 20.23% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

6.67%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
Median
6.86%
CW
6.67%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GE

Capital Goods industry group

20.23%

Max
67.39%
Q3
28.02%
GE
20.23%
Median
6.86%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.23%0.56%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)6.67%20.23%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 30.92 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while GE Aerospace (GE) at 36.94 sits in the richer quartile — GE needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

30.92

Max
59.38
Q3
35.92
CW
30.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03

GE

Capital Goods industry group

36.94

Max
59.38
GE
36.94
Q3
35.92
Median
25.41
Q1
19.47
Min
3.03
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 4.50 and GE Aerospace (GE) at 6.38 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

4.50

Max
7.54
CW
4.50
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03

GE

Capital Goods industry group

6.38

Max
7.54
GE
6.38
Q3
3.76
Median
2.15
Q1
1.03
Min
0.03
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Curtiss-Wright (CW) at 6.64 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and GE Aerospace (GE) at 19.06 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CW

Capital Goods industry group

6.64

Max
9.66
CW
6.64
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08

GE

Capital Goods industry group

19.06

GE
19.06
Max
9.66
Q3
5.00
Median
3.12
Q1
1.81
Min
-1.08
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Curtiss-Wright (CW) vs. GE Aerospace (GE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Curtiss-Wright (CW) and GE Aerospace (GE)
MetricCWGE
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.9236.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.506.38
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.6419.06
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.86%1.89%